Port Huron Museum Vision and Mission Statements

Vision:To be the premier institution of the history of the Lake Huron region.

Mission:The Port Huron Museum preserves and illuminates the stories of Michigan and the Great Lakes, through the lives and experiences of local people.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-D4-71414

Our History

ThePort Huron Museum of Arts and Historywas founded in 1967, and through a community-wide volunteer effort, opened its doors in 1968. Housed in an historic Carnegie Library (built in 1904), the Museum provides exhibitions and programs relating to local history, fine arts (with an emphasis on regional art), decorative arts, natural history, and Great Lakes marine lore. The Museum is the only year-round, multi-disciplinary cultural institution in Michigan’s Thumb Region (a five-county area). The Museum began as a completely volunteer-operated organization, and now employs a staff of seven full-time, three part-time, and seasonal part-time staff during the summer months. In addition to serving our own community, the Museum is recognized throughout the state of Michigan and nationally as a center for research in folk arts, archeology, and Great Lakes marine lore.

Sites

During the 2016 Spring, the Port Huron Museum staff welcomed an independent film crew to shoot several short features for viewing on Comcast’s “MI Destinations.” In addition to Port Huron visitor sites, they did a wide variety of places throughout the county.

These are available throughXfinity On Demandor as the below YouTube videos. Please share with friends and family for their next trip to Port Huron and come see our sites!

Below are links to the promos that feature all the segments from a YouTube page:

In 1990, the Museum opened its first off-site facility at theHURON Lightship, a National Historic Landmark now located in our nearby waterfront park.

In 2001, the Museum opened its second satellite facility, the Thomas Edison Depot Museum, to interpret the early life of Thomas Edison in Port Huron. The new museum is housed in the historic railroad station where Edison was employed, and it is based on some 19 years of archeological research sponsored by our institution.

In 2003, the Museum opened its third satellite, the US Coast Guard Cutter (Retired) BRAMBLEMuseum Ship, which was closed to the public in 2011, due to economic conditions.

In 2010, the Museum entered into an agreement with St. Clair County Parks and Recreation to be the operating partner at the Fort Gratiot Light Station property. This 5-acre, 6 building site, including the historic 1829 tower, was closed in 2008 due to the conditions of the buildings. In 2010, the property was deeded from the National Park Service/US Coast Guard to St. Clair County. The restoration process began shortly thereafter and is expected to take approximately 25 years to complete. Museum operations of the gift shop, tours, and exhibits began in May 2012, when the site was officially reopened to the public.

In 2016, the staff and supporters of the museum began the Carnegie Reimaginedcampaign, to raise money to renovate the Carnegie Museum. By taking down the carpeted walls in our large main galleries, exposing the windows and redoing electrical, HVAC, and flooring, the building will resemble the original Port Huron Public Library from 1904. The building will be open to the public for the 2017 season.